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Delray commissioners OK smoking ban for new hires

By Palm Beach Business.com

DELRAY BEACH — If you light ‘em up, Delray Beach doesn’t want you.

Commissioners on Tuesday approved vote a resolution that prohibits the city from hiring anyone that smokes. It makes potential hires subject to testing for nicotine in their system, and requires them to sign an affidavit once a year attesting that they remain smoke-free.

The new policy doesn’t apply to current workers, and most likely will have to be negotiated with unions representing the police and fire departments. But from now on, any worker hired under civil service has to be a nonsmoker.

The measure passed with a 3-2 vote, with the majority — commissioners Al Jacquet, Tom Carney and Adam Frankel — citing the policy as a means of saving money. The city, which provides health coverage for employees through a self insurance plan, already charges smokers a higher rate than nonsmokers. Smokers tend to miss work because of illness more frequently than their nonsmoking colleagues, and they tend to take more breaks during the work day.

“This is wise. This is how we attack problems at the root,” Commissioner Jacquet said. “I think this is bold. This is not a one-time thing. This is something that will save us money every year.”

But for Commissioner Angeleta Gray, who brought up the proposal for debate, the no-smoking policy was a form of discrimination that could cost Delray Beach some talented new hires in the future.

Mayor Woodie McDuffie sided with Gray.

“I detest smoking, but I have a problem legislating against things people do at home,” McDuffie said. “I don’t drink either, but I can’t see sitting here and telling the employees of the city of Delray Beach you can’t have a beer after work.”